Happy Easter everyone. It is a day of much celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And since we’re discussing the Raiders around here, let’s take a look at players resurrecting their careers from the dead. And hope to get the team’s fortunes out of the depths as well.
This is a franchise classically known for the players who took them from the junkyard and returned to glory. They built championship teams in the early 80’s with players like Jim Plunkett, John Matuszak and Todd Christensen.
That continued into the early 2000s with players such as Rich Gannon, Tyrone Wheatley and Lincoln Kennedy. And it still lives on with players like Darren Waller.
In that vein, and the spirit of Easter, we take a look at a few more current Raiders players looking to follow in the footsteps of these classic Raiders and revive their careers this season.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) runs with the ball against Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nevin Lawson (26) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, October 4, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo / David Becker)
Brown’s 2018 season saw him average 17 yards per catch over 15 starters, earning him a three-year deal with the Bills. In his first season at Buffalo, he started 15 games and caught 72 passes for 1,060 yards and six touchdowns.
Last season, he appeared in just nine games before landing on the injured reserve, limiting him to 33 catches for 458 yards and three touchdowns. He was then cut back on the bills. He’s trying to get back to the previous form with the Raiders.
Oct 7, 2018; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Darius Philon (93) responds after firing Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) at StubHub Center during the second half. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Consecutive seasons with at least four sacks in 2017-18 netted Philon a two-year deal with the Cardinals. But an arrest with assault charges got him cut, and he’s out of the NFL awaiting trial. In February, the case was dismissed and the 27-year-old is finally getting the chance to get his career back on track.
Oct 25, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cory Littleton (42) tackles Tampa Bay Buccaneers who defeated Leonard Fournette (28) in Allegiant Stadium in the first half. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
A year ago, Littleton was the best linebacker on the market for free agents. He was widely regarded as one of the best all-round linebackers in football, which earned him a lucrative long-term deal with the Raiders. Then the pandemic struck and Littleton faced a difficult task of learning a new, complicated defense without organized off-season practices. He hopes a full off season with a new defensive coordinator can bring him back to the player he was with the Rams.
24 Nov. 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving (95) tries to block a pass against Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium. Dallas won 31-26. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Drug abuse has derailed Irving’s once-promising career. In 2017, he had seven sacks in eight starter before being suspended for the rest of the season. The following season, he was indefinitely suspended after just two games, missing all of 2019.
Last season, he bounced between the Raiders exhibition team and the selection. This will be his first full offseason with a team since 2018 in wide open competition in the 3-tech DT spot.
Dec 15, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) is under pressure from Jacksonville Jaguar’s defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) during Raiders’ final game at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum before moving to Las Vegas for the 2020 season. Mandatory credit: Kirby Lee- USA TODAY Sports
For Ngakoue, it’s about finding a home and a team that really wants him. When he was signed by the Raiders to a two-year $ 26 million deal last month, he joined his fourth team in a calendar year.
Ngakoue was a Pro Bowler in his second season in 2017 with 12 sacks and six forced fumbles. And while he’s never had less than eight sacks in any of his five NFL seasons, he wasn’t seen as a game changer and certainly not a player who was every down.